I am Justice Ann Walsh Bradley. For the past 21 years I have had the honor of serving on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Last April I ran for re-election to the court and was gratified to receive the support of a substantial majority of voters from all around the state.

For the past 21 years, the people of this state have known that whenever a Justice Bradley has been referred to in the newspapers or other media, the reference was to me, Ann Walsh Bradley. Now, however, there is another Justice Bradley on the court and I am concerned that voters may confuse our identities. Thus, I am writing to seek your assistance in attempting to minimize voter confusion.

Justice Rebecca Bradley was appointed to the Supreme Court last year by Gov. Scott Walker. She is running in the April 5 election for a full 10-year term on the court.

Newspaper headlines about Justice Rebecca Bradley often refer only to “Bradley” or “Justice Bradley,” leaving many readers confused. I know this because my sons, my mother, my husband and I have received numerous comments and contacts mistakenly confusing me with Justice Rebecca Bradley.

This is of increased concern after reading recent headlines such as these in newspapers across the state: “Justice Bradley wrote of no sympathy for ‘queers’ living with AIDS,” “Bradley extramarital affair, role in child placement surface,” “Bradley sorry for anti­‐gay writings” and “Bradley called feminists ‘angry, militant, man-hating lesbians.’"

Those headlines are not about me. It is true that somewhere in these stories the name Rebecca Bradley is referenced, but usually only once or twice in a long story surrounded by numerous references to “Bradley” or “Justice Bradley.”

To avoid confusion, I have two simple requests when you have a story about Justice Rebecca Bradley. First, if the headline refers to “Bradley” or “Justice Bradley,” please include the name “Rebecca.” Second, point out to the reader early in the story that Justice Rebecca Bradley and Justice Ann Walsh Bradley are not related.

Please print this letter to help minimize any confusion among your readers. Additionally, I encourage them to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election on April 5.

Justice Ann Walsh Bradley lives in Wausau. She was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1995 and re-elected in 2005 and 2015.

Judge Rebecca Bradley, left, makes remarks to the media after the announcement of her appointment to the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Gov. Scott Walker, right.(Photo: John Hart, AP)